Tennessee football can rest easy about its starting quarterback situation. Not only is Nico Iamaleava the starter, he's a star in the making. Iamaleava's tidy performance in Saturday's spring game reiterated that all is well with Tennessee's QB1.

Elsewhere on the roster, it's more of a mixed situation. The Vols face areas they could solidify entering this spring transfer portal window.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks review the spring game and address some lingering burning questions.

Which areas of the roster look like strengths? Where does Tennessee require reinforcements? Who's the backup quarterback, and should Tennessee trust him?

Let's dive in.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/sports/govolsxtra/" aria-label="Link Tennessee football">Tennessee football</a> can rest easy about its starting quarterback situation. Not only is <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/04/16/nico-iamaleava-tennessee-football-quarterback-spring-game-mailbag/73272663007/" aria-label="Link Nico Iamaleava">Nico Iamaleava</a> the starter, he's a star in the making. Iamaleava's tidy performance in Saturday's spring game reiterated that all is well with Tennessee's QB1.
Elsewhere on the roster, it's more of a mixed situation. The Vols face areas they could solidify entering this <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/04/13/tennessee-football-transfer-portal-spring-2024-josh-heupel/73205004007/" aria-label="Link spring transfer portal window">spring transfer portal window</a>.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> review <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/04/13/tennessee-football-nico-iamaleava-spring-game-orange-white-josh-heupel/72695908007/" aria-label="Link the spring game">the spring game</a> and address some lingering burning questions.
Which areas of the roster look like strengths? Where does Tennessee require reinforcements? Who's the backup quarterback, and should Tennessee trust him?
Let's dive in.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

6 burning Tennessee football questions after spring game, as transfer portal opens

Transfers are a reality of college football in 2024, but Tennessee loses fewer players than most. Even better, the Vols very rarely lose top performers.

Tennessee bid farewell to 15 transfers this offseason, three of whom were walk-ons. That's the fewest number of transfer departures for any SEC team. By comparison, Alabama lost 39 players to the portal.

How does Josh Heupel pull off this impressive roster retention?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks unpack Tennessee's effectiveness at limiting its number of transfers.

While there's no magic bullet to prevent transfers, the Vols attack this on multiple fronts, from NIL to coaching stability to Tennessee's approach toward adding transfers.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Transfers are a reality of college football in 2024, but <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/sports/govolsxtra/" aria-label="Link Tennessee">Tennessee</a> loses fewer players than most. Even better, the Vols very rarely lose top performers.
Tennessee bid farewell to 15 transfers this offseason, three of whom were walk-ons. That's the fewest number of transfer departures for any SEC team. By comparison, Alabama lost 39 players to the portal.
How does <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/05/08/tennessee-football-buying-players-josh-heupel-nil-brian-kelly-lsu/73539172007/" aria-label="Link Josh Heupel">Josh Heupel</a> pull off this impressive roster retention?
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> unpack Tennessee's effectiveness at limiting its number of transfers.
While there's no magic bullet to prevent transfers, the Vols attack this on multiple fronts, from NIL to coaching stability to Tennessee's approach toward adding transfers.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

How Josh Heupel, Tennessee football avoid NCAA's transfer 'epidemic'

Part of coaching the Lady Vols means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. Kim Caldwell will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols will host UConn next season, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.

Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the rivalry restoration.

They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Part of <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/05/06/kim-caldwell-lady-vols-basketball-tennessee-rick-barnes-josh-heupel/73472773007/" aria-label="Link coaching the Lady Vols">coaching the Lady Vols</a> means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/05/08/lady-vols-coach-kim-caldwell-ticket-prices-2024-25-season/73560951007/" aria-label="Link Kim Caldwell">Kim Caldwell</a> will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.
The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/blake-toppmeyer/2024/05/02/lady-vols-vs-uconn-rivalry-womens-basketball-geno-auriemma-pat-summitt/73495714007/" aria-label="Link Lady Vols will host UConn next season">Lady Vols will host UConn next season</a>, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-basketball/2020/01/23/lady-vols-uconn-rivalry-womens-basketball-pat-summitt-geno-auriemma/4522168002/" aria-label="Link rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport">rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport</a>. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.
Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/corahalll" aria-label="Link Cora Hall">Cora Hall</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> weigh in on the rivalry restoration.
They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

Kim Caldwell's Lady Vols aren't ready for UConn – yet. Can she change that?

Three Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft last week.

Cause for celebration, or concern?

The four qualifying teams for last season’s College Football Playoff combined for 44 draft picks. 

That suggests that if Tennessee wants to go from competitive program to national championship program under Josh Heupel, he needs to start producing more NFL talent.

And yet, consider that Tennessee finished 9-4 despite not having a single player selected within the draft’s first three rounds. That speaks to Heupel’s coaching ability.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack Tennessee’s production in the draft and why they think Jaylen Wright will become UT's most productive NFL player from this draft class.

They also preview next year’s draft class, highlighted by edge rusher James Pierce, who profiles as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

And, they consider this question: Is Tennessee’s draft performance cause for concern?

 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Three <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/04/25/tennessee-nfl-draft-picks-2024-undrafted-free-agents/73436509007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft">Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft</a> last week.
Cause for celebration, or concern?
The four qualifying teams for last season’s College Football Playoff combined for 44 draft picks. 
That suggests that if Tennessee wants to go from competitive program to national championship program under <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/05/01/cam-seldon-injury-update-tennessee-football-josh-heupel/73445158007/" aria-label="Link Josh Heupel">Josh Heupel</a>, he needs to start producing more NFL talent.
And yet, consider that Tennessee finished 9-4 despite not having a single player selected within the draft’s first three rounds. That speaks to Heupel’s coaching ability.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack Tennessee’s production in the draft and why they think Jaylen Wright will become UT's most productive NFL player from this draft class.
They also <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/04/27/tennessee-football-nfl-draft-prospects-2025-roster/73444816007/" aria-label="Link preview next year’s draft class">preview next year’s draft class</a>, highlighted by edge rusher James Pierce, who profiles as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
And, they consider this question: Is Tennessee’s draft performance cause for concern?
 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

6 burning Tennessee football questions after spring game, as transfer portal opens

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